An Even Fifteen (Fili x reader)

(9) Narrow Escape

Laketown had become nothing more than tinder in the throes of dragon-fire that rose high into the night. Smaug landed in the town, staring down Bard at the top of a watchtower that was not yet aflame. You heard the foul beast hiss, "Who are you that would stand against me?"

"Faster, Y/N!" Bofur shouted back at you from the front of your boat. You were falling behind the others. You tore your gaze from Bard facing down the dragon and pushed your pole through the water with the strength of fear. The canals were crowded with townspeople desperate to escape the dragon, so the going was slow. You and Bofur managed to stay close to the others, thanks in part to Fili slowing down when you and Bofur occasionally got caught up with another boat, and watching until you got free before moving on with speed, though Tauriel berated him each time he did it.

The cracking of the wooden houses alight with dragon-fire echoed in your ears, and the smoke made your eyes sting with tears. You were almost free, almost out on the open water of the lake when Smaug roared terribly, the sound grating and earth-shaking. You crouched low, leaning over to cover the Rhosgobels as much as you could as you glanced up. Smaug spiraled higher and higher into the sky, the beating of his wings erratic until they just stopped. A silent scream tore from your dry, aching throat as the red dragon fell from the sky like a stone, hitting the burning town with a crash. His tail, long and slender and shining with gold, smacked the water just behind you, waves of impact rocking your boat. You put a hand down in front of you on the floor of the boat and clenched your eyes shut. You could hear Fili shouting your name and Bofur's, but you stayed still until the boat stopped tilting wildly.

"We're all right, lass," Bofur breathed in the eerie quiet. You sat up and met the bloodshot eyes of the dwarf.

"Barely," you said, and the two of you succumbed to hysterical laughter until Fili started shouting again.

"Y/N! Bofur! Are you all right?"

"Fine, lad!" Bofur shouted, laughter hovering behind every word. "Just a bit seasick!"

"Keep moving," Tauriel shouted, her tone that of someone used to commanding and being obeyed. "We need to get to shore."

You and Bofur managed to reach the shallows of the lake, and Fili met you there, helping you and Bofur pull your boat to shore. The rabbits, miracle of miracles, were unharmed, but remained in the boat, frozen in lingering fear. You sighed and climbed back in to calm them down. As you sat on the floor of the boat and coaxed the Rhosgobels into moving again, you watched with an aching heart as Sigrid and Tilda stood on the shore of the lake, shouting their father's and brother's names at the burning town. You did not think they could have survived the fires, even if they survived the dragon. It hurt to see them so distraught.

The dwarves and Tauriel began helping the townspeople that made it to the shore, helping them land their boats, even assisting those that had been forced to swim for their lives. You knew you needed to help, too, but you had to secure the rabbits first. You got out of the boat and pulled it further inland, struggling with its hefty weight, until it leaned on a tree just past the gravel that lined the lake. You helped the rabbits out of the boat and tied their lines to the tree before tilting the boat so they would have shelter, and would be mostly hidden from sight in case any desperate townspeople got any ideas.

You marched up to Fili, who was helping a mother and two daughters out of their boat. You took a firm hold of the boat's side and steadied it. Fili shot you a grateful glance as he picked up the younger daughter and took her to dry ground, the muscles on his arms flexing with the effort. He had pushed his sleeves up past his elbows, and you couldn't help but admire his arms' smooth shape and steadiness as he helped the other two out of the boat.

"There are many with burn wounds," Fili said after you had brought the boat to dry ground. "Do you know anything of healing?"

You nodded. You had learned of herbs and their uses in the forest with Radagast, and he had taught you care of wounds early on. After all, you and the brown wizard were the only ones present to help an injured animal.

"You should go help Tauriel and the other healers, then." Fili gestured to where Tauriel and a few other women tended to the gathered wounded, though he looked reluctant.

"All right," you said, but reached out a hand to his sleeve. "Just so someone else knows, I put the boat and the Rhosgobels over there," you looked at the tree where you'd left them, and Fili followed your gaze. He smiled at you and nodded, clasping your hand on his sleeve briefly before moving on to help the next boat of survivors.

You, Tauriel, and the other healers worked through what was left of the night and into morning. The stream of injured never seemed to cease, as more survivors flooded the shore. The supplies were limited to begin with-- not many had thought to bring bandages, honey, and the like when they fled for their lives-- and you soon were left with only damp cloths and soothing words with which to treat the wounded.

You had started tearing strips of cloth from your robes for those with the worst injuries once the supply ran out. Tauriel left occasionally to gather herbs that might be useful, but she often came back with only a sparse handful of usable plants. Not much except brittle grass seemed to grow nearby.

You were just finishing up with a patient when Fili appeared at your shoulder. "Bard has returned," he said, a smile creeping across his lips. "He's given us leave to use one of his boats. We leave for Erebor shortly."

You nodded and finished tying a knot in the bandage before taking your leave of the other healers. Tauriel followed, her expression stone-cold. You found the other dwarves pushing a boat into the lake. Kili left the work as soon as he saw Tauriel following you. You smiled at him as you went to take Kili's place. Though you were exhausted, you looked forward to seeing the famed halls of Erebor.

You heard Fili before you saw him, shouting at you and Kili for help. You turned to see him being pulled in two different directions by the team of Rhosgobels, each of their two main lines in his hands. You laughed aloud at the sight of his face flushed with effort, the burly dwarf overpowered by a few giant rabbits. Kili did not move from in front of Tauriel, did not even spare his brother a glance, but you stepped away from the boat and whistled loud and clear in two short bursts. The rabbits stilled, their ears at attention as they waited for your next command. You approached Fili at a brisk walk and took the lines from him, whistling once more so that the rabbits assembled in their orderly lines as they would before the sled.

"Thanks," Fili breathed, wiping his brow.

"I should be thanking you," you said, smiling. "I was going to get them as soon as the boat was ready, but you beat me to it."

He shrugged and bounced on his toes. "I want to be on our way as quickly as possible," he said with a broad smile before moving toward the boat. "Come on, Kee! We're almost home!"

A/N: Isn't Fili great? So thoughtful. As always, thank you for reading! If you're enjoying this chapter, please give it a vote, or you can leave me a comment or two! I'd love to know what you guys think of the story so far (or if you just want to express some feelings, that's all good, too). You guys are amazing!
--RA

P.S. For those of you reading ahead through some of the drafts I have (which is totally okay-- it makes me laugh, and helps me know that some of you are just as impatient as I am for the good stuff), please note that those drafts will change some between when I create them and when I publish them. Sometimes I have to change a few plot points to make something work later on, or I'll change details as I edit and proofread. :)